}}{{tnr}}'''Mike Ross''' (b. August 2, 1961) was a [[Democratic]] member of the [[U.S. House]] representing [[Arkansas]]'s 4th congressional district from 2001 to 2013.

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}}{{tnr}}'''Mike Ross''' (b. August 2, 1961) was a [[Democratic]] member of the [[U.S. House]] representing [[Arkansas]]'s 4th congressional district from 2001 to 2013. He {{2014isrunning}} for [[Governor of Arkansas]] in the [[Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2014|2014 election]].

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Ross did not seek re-election in 2012,<ref>[http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/in-rosss-wake/Content?oid=1874541 ''Arkansas Times'' "In Ross' wake," Accessed February 23, 2012]</ref> opting instead to take a job in the private sector as the senior vice president for government affairs and public relations for '''Southwest Power Pool'''. Ross will be succeeded by [[Tom Cotton]], a [[Republican]], who won election to the U.S. House on November 6, 2012.<ref name=arkbus>[http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/89833/mike-ross-not-reconsidering-2014-run-for-arkansas-governor ''Arkansas Business,'' "Mike Ross not reconsidering 2014 run for Arkansas governor," December 26, 2012]</ref>

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Ross did not seek re-election in 2012,<ref>[http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/in-rosss-wake/Content?oid=1874541 ''Arkansas Times'' "In Ross' wake," Accessed February 23, 2012]</ref> opting instead to take a job in the private sector as the senior vice president for government affairs and public relations for '''Southwest Power Pool'''. Ross was succeeded by [[Tom Cotton]], a [[Republican]], who won election to the U.S. House on November 6, 2012.<ref name=arkbus>[http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/89833/mike-ross-not-reconsidering-2014-run-for-arkansas-governor ''Arkansas Business,'' "Mike Ross not reconsidering 2014 run for Arkansas governor," December 26, 2012]</ref>

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by ''GovTrack'', Ross was a "[[GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking|centrist Democrat]]".<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/mike_ross/400345 ''Gov Track'' "Ross" Accessed May 23, 2012]</ref>

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by ''GovTrack'', Ross was a "[[GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking|centrist Democrat]]".<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/mike_ross/400345 ''Gov Track'' "Ross" Accessed May 23, 2012]</ref>

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===2014===

===2014===

::''See also: [[Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2014]]''

::''See also: [[Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2014]]''

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Ross was considered a potential [[Democratic]] candidate for [[Governor of Arkansas]] in 2014. He announced in late December 2012 that he would not run for the governorship in the next election, but that he had not ruled out seeking the office in subsequent elections.<ref name=arkbus/><ref>[http://talkbusiness.net/2012/12/stars-alligning-for-mike-ross-to-reconsider-running-for-governor/ ''Talk Business.net,'' "Stars aligning for Mike Ross to reconsider running for governor," December 20, 2012]</ref>

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Ross announced he {{2014isrunning}} for [[Governor of Arkansas]] in the 2014 election. He will seek the Democratic nomination in the primary. {{Nov2014genelection}}

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===Race background===

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In June 2012, [[Democratic]] [[Attorney General of Arkansas|Arkansas Attorney General]] Dustin McDaniel filed paperwork to start raising money for his 2014 campaign for [[Governor of Arkansas]].<ref>[http://arkansasnews.com/sections/news/arkansas/mcdaniel-raises-1-million-governor%E2%80%99s-race.html ''Arkansas News Bureau,'' "McDaniel raises $1 million for governor’s race," October 15, 2012]</ref> He dropped out of the race on January 25, 2013. McDaniel had been considered the Democratic frontrunner, but revelations that he had engaged in extra-martial relations with a Hot Springs attorney, Andi Davis,<ref>[http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/12/18/mcdaniel-admits-inappropriate-relationship-with-hot-springs ''Arkansas Times,'' "McDaniel admits 'inappropriate interaction' with Hot Springs lawyer," December 18, 2013]</ref> whom he met around his 2010 re-election, ultimately proved too significant a publicity threat to his gubernatorial campaign. His official statement announcing his withdrawal from the race was sent to supporters through e-mail the morning on Jan. 25. McDaniel's statement explained, "I had hoped that I could shape the 2014 gubernatorial debate with my vision for the future. Unfortunately, I am now convinced that if I run for Governor, this campaign would be about me personally, rather than Arkansas's future."<ref name=dropout>[http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/01/25/mcdaniel-official-announces-hes-out-of-governors-race ''Arkansas Times,'' "McDaniel officially announces he's out of governor's race," January 25, 2013]</ref>

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The same day McDaniel withdrew his bid, former [[Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas|Arkansas Lieutenant Governor]] [[Bill Halter]] announced his entry into the gubernatorial race. He's seeking the [[Democratic]] nomination, and his campaign has so far been endorsed by the United Steelworkers union.<ref>[http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/feb/22/united-steelworkers-endorses-halter-governor/ ''Arkansas Online,'' "Steelworkers union endorses Halter for governor," February 22, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/jan/25/halter-run-governor/ ''Arkansas Online,'' "Halter to enter governor's race," January 25, 2013]</ref> Halter has made education the chief focus of his campaign, hinging on his $50-75 million plan to offer college scholarships to high school graduates who maintain a 2.5 grade point average.<ref name=dems14/>

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After announcing in Dec. 2012 that he would not run for [[Governor of Arkansas]], he re-emerged as a potential candidate following state attorney general and early frontrunner for the [[Democratic]] gubernatorial nomination [[Dustin McDaniel]] dropped out of the race.<ref name=arkbus/><ref>[http://talkbusiness.net/2012/12/stars-alligning-for-mike-ross-to-reconsider-running-for-governor/ ''Talk Business.net,'' "Stars aligning for Mike Ross to reconsider running for governor," December 20, 2012]</ref><ref>[http://brummett.arkansasonline.com/index.php/2013/02/12/governors-race-follow-up/ ''Arkansasonline.com,'' "Governor's race follow up," February 12, 2013]</ref>

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"Dustin McDaniel getting out of the race has left a huge void which clearly none of the other candidates are filling or I wouldn't be getting all these calls from every corner of the state...I'm humbled by that and I feel a sense of duty and responsibility to the people of this state to at least reconsider my decision and I'm doing that," Ross said at U.S. Sen. [[Mark Pryor]]'s (D-AR) re-election fundraiser in March 2013.<ref>[http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Analysis-Dem-race-for-Ark-gov-in-14-unsettled-4380448.php ''The Associated Press - My San Antonio,'' "Analysis: Dem. race for Ark. gov. in '14 unsettled," March 24, 2013]</ref> Ross officially entered the governor's race on April 17, 2013. The only other declared Democratic candidate at the time of his announcement was [[Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Bill Halter]].<ref>[http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/04/17/mike-ross-pitches-for-moderate-vote-in-announcing-for-governor ''The Arkansas Times,'' "Mike Ross pitches for moderate vote in announcing for governor," April 17, 2013]</ref>

===2012===

===2012===

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==Analysis==

==Analysis==

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===Congressional Staff Salaries===

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===Congressional staff salaries===

::''See also: [[Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

::''See also: [[Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

The website ''Legistorm'' compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Ross paid his congressional staff a total of $995,469 in 2011. He ranked 74th on the list of the lowest paid Democratic Representative Staff Salaries and he ranked 265th overall of the lowest paid Representative Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, [[Arkansas]] ranked 38th in average salary for representative staff. The average [[U.S. House of Representatives]] congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.<ref>[http://www.legistorm.com/member/447/Rep_Mike_Ross.html LegiStorm "Mike Ross"]</ref>

The website ''Legistorm'' compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Ross paid his congressional staff a total of $995,469 in 2011. He ranked 74th on the list of the lowest paid Democratic Representative Staff Salaries and he ranked 265th overall of the lowest paid Representative Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, [[Arkansas]] ranked 38th in average salary for representative staff. The average [[U.S. House of Representatives]] congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.<ref>[http://www.legistorm.com/member/447/Rep_Mike_Ross.html LegiStorm "Mike Ross"]</ref>

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===National Journal vote ratings===

===National Journal vote ratings===

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====2011====

:: ''See also: [[National Journal vote ratings]]''

:: ''See also: [[National Journal vote ratings]]''

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====2012====

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Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Ross ranked 180th in the liberal rankings in 2012.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-vote-ratings ''National Journal,'' "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," February 21, 2013]</ref>

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====2011====

Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Ross ranked 192nd in the liberal rankings.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings2011/searchable-vote-ratings-tables-house-20120223 ''National Journal,'' "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," February 23, 2012]</ref>

Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Ross ranked 192nd in the liberal rankings.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings2011/searchable-vote-ratings-tables-house-20120223 ''National Journal,'' "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," February 23, 2012]</ref>

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Ross and his wife, Holly, have two children.

Ross and his wife, Holly, have two children.

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==Recent news==

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This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term '''"Mike Ross" + Arkansas'''

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:''All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.''

Ross did not seek re-election in 2012,[1] opting instead to take a job in the private sector as the senior vice president for government affairs and public relations for Southwest Power Pool. Ross was succeeded by Tom Cotton, a Republican, who won election to the U.S. House on November 6, 2012.[2]

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2011-2012

Issues

Specific votes

Rep. Ross voted for TARP.[5] According to a Gallup poll from September 13, 2010, 61% of Americans disapprove of TARP, while 37% approve.[6]

Rep. Ross also voted for the auto bailout.[7] As of September 13, 2010: 56% of Americans disapproved of the auto bailout, while 43% supported it.[8]

In addition, Rep. Ross voted for the stimulus bill.[9] 57% of U.S. voters believe that the stimulus has either hurt the economy (36%) or had no impact (21%). 38% believe the stimulus helped the economy. [10]

Finally, Rep. Ross supported the "Cash for Clunkers" bill.[11] According to a June 2009 Rasmussen Reports poll, 54% of likely U.S. voters opposed Cash for Clunkers, while 35% supported it.[12]

Fiscal Cliff

Ross voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.[13]

Earmarks

A Washington Post investigation in February 2012 revealed that 33 members of Congress helped direct more than $300 million in earmarks to public projects in close proximity to commercial and residential real estate owned by the lawmakers or their family members.[14] According to the report, Ross helped secure about $2.6 million toward the construction of a railroad trestle in Prescott about one-third mile from a building he owns.[15]

Sponsored legislation

Ross is co-sponsoring legislation which would require states to redraw boundaries by using an independent commission. Ross said that redistricting was responsible for making Congress become more partisan by creating fewer competitive districts. He says that the process has created more safe seats for both parties, resulting in fewer moderate lawmakers willing to work with the opposite party. He said, "It used to be that we only did politics on even years and we'd actually make policy on odd years. Now we never make policy. It's politics 24-7 the entire two year term."[16]

Elections

2014

Ross announced he ran for Governor of Arkansas in the 2014 election. He will seek the Democratic nomination in the primary. The general election took place November 4, 2014.

Race background

In June 2012, DemocraticArkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel filed paperwork to start raising money for his 2014 campaign for Governor of Arkansas.[17] He dropped out of the race on January 25, 2013. McDaniel had been considered the Democratic frontrunner, but revelations that he had engaged in extra-martial relations with a Hot Springs attorney, Andi Davis,[18] whom he met around his 2010 re-election, ultimately proved too significant a publicity threat to his gubernatorial campaign. His official statement announcing his withdrawal from the race was sent to supporters through e-mail the morning on Jan. 25. McDaniel's statement explained, "I had hoped that I could shape the 2014 gubernatorial debate with my vision for the future. Unfortunately, I am now convinced that if I run for Governor, this campaign would be about me personally, rather than Arkansas's future."[19]

The same day McDaniel withdrew his bid, former Arkansas Lieutenant GovernorBill Halter announced his entry into the gubernatorial race. He's seeking the Democratic nomination, and his campaign has so far been endorsed by the United Steelworkers union.[20][21] Halter has made education the chief focus of his campaign, hinging on his $50-75 million plan to offer college scholarships to high school graduates who maintain a 2.5 grade point average.[22]

"Dustin McDaniel getting out of the race has left a huge void which clearly none of the other candidates are filling or I wouldn't be getting all these calls from every corner of the state...I'm humbled by that and I feel a sense of duty and responsibility to the people of this state to at least reconsider my decision and I'm doing that," Ross said at U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor's (D-AR) re-election fundraiser in March 2013.[25] Ross officially entered the governor's race on April 17, 2013. The only other declared Democratic candidate at the time of his announcement was Lieutenant GovernorBill Halter.[26]

Analysis

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Ross paid his congressional staff a total of $995,469 in 2011. He ranked 74th on the list of the lowest paid Democratic Representative Staff Salaries and he ranked 265th overall of the lowest paid Representative Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Arkansas ranked 38th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[29]

Net worth

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Ross' net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $128,010 and $479,999. That averages to $304,004.50, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Representatives in 2010 of $4,465,875.[30]